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Israel arrests Arab for murder of settler rabbi

Abed Hakim Assi, born in 1998, is believed to have stabbed to death Itamar Ben Gal, 29, near the settlement of Ariel on February 5

A young Palestinian protester prepares to fire a slingshot during clashes with Israeli soldiers following a weekly demonstration against the expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel in the village of Kfar Qaddum, near Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, on March 16, 2018. Jaafar Ashtiyeh / AFP

According to media reports, he was living in Tel Aviv prior to the attack and had a background of drug abuse and social problems.

The arrest comes on the heels of a car ramming attack by a Palestinian near Jenin in the northern West Bank on Friday that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded two others, according to the army.

Tensions were high after Palestinian movement Hamas called for a day of rage on Friday to commemorate 100 days since US President Donald Trump's controversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Palestinians also see the city as their capital and Mr Trump's recognition broke with decades of US policy that Jerusalem's status would be negotiated between the parties.

At least 31 Palestinians and four Israelis have been killed since Mr Trump's announcement, which set off major protests.